How to choose the dBi power of antennas ?

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glhw

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Aug 28, 2017
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As title says, I have to choose an adsl router with wireless support but I noticed that some of the cheap models (TP-LINK TD-W8960N V5 - 25 €) have two 5 dBi antennas, while others high end models have three 2 dBi antennas (TP-LINK Archer D2 - 58 €).

I'm a little bit confused: what antenna configuration should I choose to get the most extensive wireless coverage and why cheaper models have more powerful antennas ?
 
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To really know for sure you would have to read the tech specs or dig though the FCC database to find the output power.

In most cases all router put out more or less the same output power. It is regulated by the government and most devices put out the legal maximum.

There are 2 things that affect the output power. The radio amplifiers in the device and the antennas. Without getting to detailed. If you have a device that has 500mw radio and antenna that double the power and you have a device that has a 250mw radio and antenna that 4x the power you still get the same 1watt maximum legal power.

So the antenna size in general does not mean much by itself, you have to know the radio chips power to really know.

Ignoring things...
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Ralston18

Ralston18

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Oct 11, 2014
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Placement, frequency, channel, surrounding sources of interference all effect coverage and performance.

Product design and quality also count.

The User Guide/Manual will probably have some recommendations regarding antenna orientations.

Start by reading the following link:

https://www.geckoandfly.com/10213/wireless-router-antenna-distance-coverage-comparison/

Then go back and look at the individual router's specifications and documentation.

 
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bill001g

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Aug 9, 2012
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To really know for sure you would have to read the tech specs or dig though the FCC database to find the output power.

In most cases all router put out more or less the same output power. It is regulated by the government and most devices put out the legal maximum.

There are 2 things that affect the output power. The radio amplifiers in the device and the antennas. Without getting to detailed. If you have a device that has 500mw radio and antenna that double the power and you have a device that has a 250mw radio and antenna that 4x the power you still get the same 1watt maximum legal power.

So the antenna size in general does not mean much by itself, you have to know the radio chips power to really know.

Ignoring things like portable routers, almost all routers have more or less the same coverage. What is much more important is the house you put them in. This is why you see people claiming just about every router in existence is the greatest ever or is a piece of junk in reviews. They are actually reviewing their houses wifi performance to a point.

Routers even with same output power perform differently in different houses, the size and placement of the antenna do have some effect. Unfortunately it is impossible to figure this out, you are left blindly trying which work best in your particular house.
 
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